Fox Buys Motivational Speaker Comedy Produced By Julie Anne Robinson

Written by Evan Mann and Gareth Reynolds, Positively Speaking centers on an up-and-coming motivational speaker who tries to become the next king of self-help. Mann and Reynolds executive produce with Robinson. Kelly Pancho, who helped put the project together, will oversee for Canny Lads. ABC Studios, where Robinson is under an overall deal, is the studio.

Mann and Reynolds met at Emerson College when Reynolds auditioned for Mann’s troupe. After college, they reunited in Los Angeles to form a sketch group and performed at the Improv Olympic West while also making videos and writing for TV. They are repped by ICM Partners.

Robinson serves as an executive producer on Shondaland’s ABC/ABC Studios drama series The Catch. Robinson brought the project to Shondaland and also directed the pilot, one of several pilots she has helmed, including ABC comedy Selfie, which also went to series. She is repped by CAA, 3 Arts Entertainment and attorney Warren Dern.